Automatic pressing means, more particularly for closing bottles



J1me 1952 J. STALLER AUTOMATIC PRESSING MEANS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR CLOSING BOTTLES FlJ-ed July 29, 1949 (32. &IN VEN TOR. k? &

Patented June 17, 1952 AUTOMATIC PRESSING MEANS, MORE PAR- TICULARLY FOR CLOSING BOTTLES Jan Staller, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to .lasta A. G. Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Application July 29, 1949, Serial No. 107,485 In Czechoslovakia September 6, 1948 Claims. (01. 226-80) This invention relates to an automatic pressing appliance, which is more particularly applicable to the closing of bottles or other containers with covers, which, after insertion into an aperture. are secured by expanding their rim with the aid of gripping jaws on a closing head.

In appliances of this nature hitherto used the disadvantage has been found that the maximum stroke of the gripping jaws is determined by the limitation of the axial movement of the mechanism driving them. Under these circumstances a correct closing can be effected only when the dimensions of the aperture to be closed are al ways exactly the same. Any irregularities occurring, produced either by insufficiently accurate manufacture or by wear of the closure after being in use for a long time, result in an incomplete sealing of the closed container, because the gripping jaws do not suffice to impress the marginal wall of the cover so deeply as the regular sealing requires. Furthermore it is necessary, in the operation of existing appliances, after placing the container upon an associated supporting base, to eifect the switching-on movement by means of a special operating mechanism, usually by means of a pedal.

The present invention supplements the known devices mentioned in the sense that it ensures a satisfactory sealing even if the closure members of the container are already considerably worn, or, owing to inaccuracies in manufacture, are of unequal dimensions from the outset. The apparatus can be started by simply putting the container on it, so that no manipulation with a special operating lever, pedal or the like is required, thereby considerably simplifying, facilitating and accelerating the work.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows one embodiment of a machine for closing bottles which are provided with an annular cap permanently mounted thereon and a sealing ring, into which parts, in the closing operation, a cover is introduced, which is secured therein by radially expanding its peripheral wall.

The machine comprises a hydraulic cylinder H], with a liquid filling H, and with a piston 9 inserted fluid-tightly in the cylinder. In this piston is guided, fluid-tightly and slidably, a small piston l2, which is permanently loaded by a weight l3, which has an abutment M at the top, and an exchangeable supplementary weight 22. The piston 9 is rigidly connected with a vertical cylindrical slide valve 3, on which a base 2 for supporting a bottle I is slidable up and down.

In this base 2 a further controlling slide valve 5 is also slidable up and down, but such relative motion is resisted by moderate friction produced by a resilient insertion 20. The base 2 is con" nected on one side by a flexible pipe 5 with a source of compressed air, and on the other side by a flexible pipe 6 to a press cylinder 1. In the position shown the admission of compressed air from the pipe 5 is shut off by the piston 3. The piston 23 of the press cylinder 1 carries a closure head 8 of known construction provided with radially movable gripping jaws. Piston 8 is urged upwardly by spring 24 when fluid pressure from pipe 6 is released. The slide valve 3 has a pcripheral groove l8, and the slide valve 4 has longitudinal grooves I1 and 2|. A duct H3 in the base 2 connects the bores in which the slide valves 3 and 4 are guided. i9 is a spring, which holds the base 2, when unloaded, in a raised position. When a bottle is placed on this base, however, the weight of the bottle compresses the spring until the base 2 rests upon the piston 9. The slide valve 4 descending with the base, passes quite freely through an' aperture in the piston 9. In this position the pipe 5 and the duct l8 both register with the groove l6, and the groove or annular chamber I1 is in ccmmunication both with the duct I8 and with the pipe 6. The piston 23 of the press cylinder 1 for driving the gripping jaws of the closing head 8, is thus supplied with compressed air. It is designed for a stroke which is long enough to suiiice for the adequate radial movement of the gripping jaws, even with the greatest admissible wear of the closure members permanently secured to the bottle.

The axial pressure of the head 8 is transmitted by the bottle I, the base 2 and the piston 9 to the liquid N filling the cylinder lil, so that this liquid tends to raise the small piston l2, loaded by the weights [3 and 22. So long as the pressure of the liquid [1, produced by the axial closing force, is not great enough to raise the weights, the piston 9 acts as a fixed sup port. The pressure in the press cylinder 1, and therefore also the gripping pressure of the jaws of the head 8, can increase up to a maximum given by the pressure of the compressed air admitted at 5. As soon however as the upward pressure of the fluid I I upon the piston l2 exceeds the downward pressure of the weights is and 22, the piston I2 is raised, together with the weights l3 and 22, with a proportional but considerably smaller sinking of the piston 9, until the projecting abutment M on the weight 13 strikes against an abutment l at the lower end of the slide valve 4. thereby raising this slide valve against the frictional resistance of the resilient insertion 20. It thus shuts off the admission of compressed air into the pipe 6 leading to the press cylinder I, and connects this pipe by way of the groove 2| with'the atmosphere, so that the compressed air escapes from the press cylinder 1, and the head 8 ascends, thus terminating the operation of closing the bottle, which can then be removed from the base 2. As soon as this has been done the unloaded base 2 automatically ascends, under the influence of the spring [9 (the ascent of the piston l being limited by the abutment I5) and the parts re-assume the neutral position represented in the drawing, in which they are ready for the reception of a fresh bottle.

Since the limitation of the closing movement of the head 8, in the apparatus described, is effected simply and solely by the resistance with which the gripping jaws meet in embossing the marginal wall of the cover, and this resistance increases particularly when this wall is being applied to the sealing portion of the bottle closure, it is certain that in any case a regular application and indentation Will be effected, irrespectively of whether the internal width-of the closure aperture is larger or smaller. Thus there can never be a dangerous increase in the axial pressure applied to the head 8 upon the bottle I, such as might damage the bottle, for this pressure is proportional to the gripping pressure of the jaws upon the cover wall, and is limited by the automatic disengaging means. By varying the additional weight 22 the magnitude of the maximum gripping pressure can be adjusted at will, with a considerable reserve of pressure of the press cylinder 1, and can be adapted to any given working conditions, as for instance to the stiffness and hardness of the cover material and the like. 1

Since the manipulation of the apparatus is limited to the mere placing of the bottle I upon the base 2, and its removal therefrom after the closing has been automatically effected, the work is quick and easy, and causes no strain to the person in charge. Above all the worker need give no attention to the machine effecting the gripping of the covers to the appropriate depth,

for the machine attends to this quite automatically, even when there are irregularities in the dimensions of the closure apertures. The apparatus can also quite easily be provided with an automatic bottle feed, thereby converting it into a fully automatic closing device.

It is possible to select a constructional solution differing from the example described and illustrated. Thus it would be possible to replace the hydraulic disengaging relay formed by the piston 9, the cylinder ID, the piston l2 and the weight l3 by a suitable mechanical or electrical relay, to set the apparatus in motion by lateral pressure upon a movable member, for instance when inserting a bottle in the machine, instead of by the weight of the bottle placed upon the base, and so on.

The applicability of the apparatus according to the invention is not restricted to devices for closing bottles, but relates to all cases in which similar problems have to be solved.

Iclaim:

1. Automatic pressing apparatus for applying a closure to bottles and like containers comprising in combination, movably mounted pres- 'tainer is placed thereon, said actuating means comprising a valve means communicating with said hydraulic fluid means and operatively connected to said support means to be opened by the movement of the same when a container is placed thereon, whereby hydraulic fluid flows to said pressure head means; and means for automatically disconnecting said means for moving said pressure head means from said pressure head means after a predetermined pressure has been applied to the closure means on the container by said pressure head means.

2. Automatic pressing apparatus for applying closures to bottles and like containers having a predetermined weight comprising, in combination, a fixedly mounted cylinder having a fluid therein; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and resting on said fluid; support means for the container located in overlying and spaced relation to said piston; means located between said support means and piston for movably mounting said support means and holding it spaced from said piston by a force which is less than said predetermined Weight, whereby, when a container is placed on said support means, the latter is moved into contact with said piston; pressure head means located in spaced and overlying relation with respect to said support means for applying a closure to the container; means operatively connected to said support means for automatically actuating said pressure head means upon movement of said support means when a container is placed thereon; and means operatively connected to said piston for disconnecting said pressure head actuating means when the pressure head means urges the piston, through the support means and container located therebetween, against the fluid with a predetermined pressure.

3. Automatic pressing apparatus for applying closures to bottles and like containers having a predetermined weight comprising, in combination, a fixedly mounted cylinder having a fluid therein; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and resting on said fluid; support means for the container located in overlying and spaced relation to said piston; means located between said support means and piston for movably mounting said support means and holding it spaced from said piston by a force which is less than said predetermined weight, whereby, when a container is placed on said support means, the latter is moved into contact with said piston; pressure head means located in spaced and overlying relation with respect to said support means for applying a closure to the container; hydraulic fluid means operatively connected to said support means for automatically actuating said pressure head means upon movement of said support means when a container is placed thereon; and means operatively connected to said piston for disconnecting said pressure head actuating means when the pressure head means urges the piston, through the support means and container located therebetween, against the fluid with a predetermined pressure, said disconnecting means comprising a second piston slidably mounted within the first-mentioned piston and also resting on the fluid, valve means connected to said hydraulic fluid means, and linkage means located between said second piston and said valve means for closing the latter when said predetermined pressure of said first-mentioned piston on the fluid causes said fluid to raise said second piston, whereby the flow of fluid through said hydraulic fluid means is cut off and the pressure head means is no longer actuated.

4. Automatic pressing apparatus for applying closures to bottles and like containers having a predetermined weight comprising, in combination, a fixedly mounted cylinder having a fluid therein; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and resting on said fluid; support means for the container located in .overlying and spaced relation to said piston; means located between said support means and piston for movably mounting said support means and holding it spaced from said piston by a force which is less than said predetermined weight, whereby, when a container is placed on said support means, the latter is moved into contact with said piston; pressure head means located in spaced and overlying relation with respect to said support means for applying a closure to the container; hydraulic fluid means operatively connected to said support means for automatically actuating said pressure head means upon movement of said support means when a container is placed therein; and means operatively connected to said piston for disconnecting said pressure head actuating means when the pressure head means urges the piston, through the support means and container located therebetween, against the fluid with a predetermined pressure, said disconnecting means comprising a second piston slidably mounted within the first-mentioned piston and also resting on the fluid, weight means mounted on said second piston for determining the pressure which disconnects said pressure head actuating means, valve means connected to said hydraulic fluid means, and linkage means located between said second piston and said valve means for closing the latter when said predetermined pressure of said first-mentioned piston on the fluid causes said fluid to raise said second piston, whereby the flow of fluid through said hydraulic fluid means is cut off and the pressure head means is no longer actuated.

5. Automatic pressing apparatus for applying closures to bottles and like containers comprising, in combination, a fixedly mounted cylinder having a fluid therein; a first piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and resting on said fluid; a second piston slidably mounted within said first piston and also resting on said fluid, said second piston being provided with an extension extending away from said fluid; weight means mounted on said extension so as to press said second piston against said fluid with a predetermined pressure; an elongated member fixedly connected to said piston and extending away from the fluid, said elongated member being formed with an annular groove; a container support means formed with a first bore which slidingly engages said elongated member so that said support means is slidably mounted on said first piston, said support means having a second bore and duct means formed therein, said duct means interconnecting said bores and communicating at its ends with the outer surface of said support means; first fluid supply means connected to one of the ends of said duct means; pressure head means located in spaced and overlying relation to said support means so that a container and closure therefor may be located between said pressure head means and said support means; hydraulic pressure means connected to said pressure head means for actuating the same; second fluid supply means connected at one end to said hydraulic pressure means and connected at its other end to the other of the ends'of said duct means for conveying hydraulic fluid from said duct means to said pressure head means for actuating the same; means located between said support means and first piston for holding said support means spaced from said first piston when there is no container on said support means and for lowering said support means on said elongated member and into engagement with said piston when a container is placed thereon, said annular groove being in registry with said duct means when said support means is thus lowered; and valve means slidably mounted in said second bore and having an end portion adapted to contact said extension of said second piston, said valve means in one position thereof communicating with said duct means and annular groove to pass fluid through said duct means and second fluid supply means and in another position thereof communicating only with said second fluid supply means, said other end of said duct means and the atmosphere, whereby, when a container is placed on said support means, said support means is lowered into contact with said piston so that said annular groove is in registry with said duct means to permit the flow of fluid through said duct means and by said valve means to said pressure head means to actuate the same, and whereby, when the pressure head means, through the container and support means, presses said first piston against the fluid with a sufiicient pressure to move said second piston upward against the action of the weight thereon, said extension on said second piston actuates said valve means to cut off the flow through said duct means for stopping the actuation of said pressure head and for permitting the pressure of the fluid against the pressure head to be freed to the atmosphere.

JAN STALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,050,373 Miller Jan. 14, 1913 1,431,341 Tevander Oct. 12, 1922 1,760,482 Derby May 27, 1930 2,075,727 Karlsson et a1 Mar. 30, 1937 2,428,598 Weaver Oct. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 78,942 Sweden Nov. 14, 1933 296,698 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1928 637,289 Germany Oct. 26, 1936 652,760 Germany Nov. 8, 1937 

